AboutLadismith

Welcome to Ladismith Tourism

Here you'll find loads of information about Ladismith, a town in the Klein Karoo, South Africa and not to be confused with the Ladysmith in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.

Ladismith lies along Route 62: 300km east from Cape Town and 100km west from Oudtshoorn. Ladismith is famous for, amongst other things, Towerkop, the split mountain peak which looms over the town, Stanley's Light, fruit and its cheeses and wines.

A detailed description of Ladismith along with useful information such as its climate, natural surroundings, distances from surrounding towns and locations of conference venues, can be found below.

Contact Details:

Tel/fax: +27(0)28 551 1378

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What you need to know

Ladismith (550m) nestles at the foot of the Klein Swartberg mountain range in the Klein Karoo.

Situated on Route 62, it is linked by tarred main roads to all major centres, including Cape Town (320km), Oudtshoorn (100km), Montagu (139km), George (160km), Mossel Bay (185km) and Port Elizabeth (420km).

Ladismith is one of the four towns which falls under the municipal name called Kannaland. Kannaland is divided into Van Wyksdorp (www.vanwyksdorp.com), Ladismith, Zoar/Amalienstein and Calitzdorp (www.calitzdorp.org.za)

An impressive mountain peak called Towerkop (2198m) looms above Ladismith. Local legend has it that a witch, flying overhead, struck the peak in anger with her wand because it obstructed her passage over the mountain. Her anger resulted in Towerkop's unique appearance - the peak is split in two.

Halfway up Elandsberg (2128m) you'll find a famous landmark, sometimes referred to as Ladismith's extra star in the galaxy: Stanley's Light (1500m). Erected in 1963 by Stanley de Wit, an inhabitant of the town, it consisted of a bicycle lamp and dynamo being powered by a waterstream. An indication of the availability of water for the surrounding farms and the town itself was hereby established.

A wide variety of scenic routes are accessible from Ladismith. If one travels east through the beautiful Hoeko Valley,breathtaking views of orchards in the spring and autumn can be experienced. Turning into Seweweekspoort - a gorge running through the mountain, spectacular rock formations can be seen as the road follows the winding riverbed for 21km through the mountain and emerges in the Great Karoo.Travelling west of Ladismith one can visit the picturesque valleys, with the orchards, vineyards and old farmhouses of Dwarsrivier, Voorbaat and Van Zylsdamme.

It serves an extensive farming area with ideal climate for the production of apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines, figs, pomegranates, olives and grapes. Approximately 30% of the total apricot export market comes from the district. There are two cheese factories as well as a winery.

Ladismith is unique in the sense that is has its own individual building style. The so-called Ladismith style is a simplified Georgian design and dates from the 1830's. Several other architectural styles, i.e. Neo-Gothic, Georgian, Victorian, Regency, Lithuanian, Edwardian, Cape Revival and Rural (Karoo) style, can also be found.

Approximately 180 species of birds have been spotted. Vegetation is widely varied and ranges from fynbos in the mountain to karoo broken veld, spekboom and succulent karoo on the koppies and plains. The fynbos includes the rare Protea aristata and Protea pruinosa. Another endemic shrub to the Klein Karoo is the beautiful Nymania capensis or "Klapperbos".